One of the Smyrna/Clayton Sun-Times' top stories of 2012 is one involving a dedicated husband, a Delaware celebrity and an overjoyed wife.

WHY WE REPORTED IT

Lauren Finch, of Odessa, was floored after discovering her husband, Hyrum, brought her favorite country singer, Smyrna's own Chuck Wicks, to perform a private concert at her 30th birthday on July 19 at Cantwell's Tavern in Odessa.

WHY IT MATTERS

The birthday concert is proof Wicks, a national star who now resides in Nashville, Tenn., hasn't forgotten about his hometown fans in Delaware. In fact, after the birthday performance, he brought the fun to SportZone where he treated surprised patrons to a mini concert.

WHAT'S NEXT

On Labor Day weekend Finch and her cousin Kristen Schmidt had the pleasure of seeing Wicks in concert – Finch's first Wicks show since her birthday concert – at the Woodstock Fair in Connecticut. Being the true fan she is, Finch arrived at the show early and was able to get reacquainted with Wicks, who generously hooked her and Schmidt up with VIP passes, she said.

"We actually went backstage and got on his bus and he did a concert for us," she added. "We hung out and took pictures with him and talked to him for a little while."

When asked about the next Wicks concert she'll attend, Finch smiled and said she doesn't know when the next will be.